Central Coast Mariners clinch A-League Premiership with win over Adelaide
Central Coast Mariners are premiers of A-League Men for the first time in 12 years after defeating Adelaide in the season finale.
After a turbulent past few weeks Adelaide United fans would have been relieved to see their team draw with Sydney FC. The match marked the return of John Kosmina as coach and showed that Adelaide could still play competitive football.
The result was a good one but the Reds have a long way to go, and find themselves at the bottom of the ladder.
The team has nothing to lose now but pride and the board will no doubt be sweating it out as they wait for the club’s imminent rise.
United’s list is arguably as strong as any in the A-League and could be a real force in the future but fans are getting restless and need to see results now.
Kosmina may be the man to take the Reds to the finals, and as a South Australian himself Kosmina has displayed the passion and intent required by any coach to lift his players and will undoubtedly work hard to turn the team’s season around – but will the players get the message?
Nothing but a win tomorrow night will prove Adelaide still has what it takes when it takes on the high flying Phoenix at Hindmarsh.
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Central Coast Mariners are premiers of A-League Men for the first time in 12 years after defeating Adelaide in the season finale.
Central Coast sit second behind Wellington, and a victory over Adelaide will see them finish the regular season on top of the ladder.
Joe Lolley was outstanding for the Sky Blues, scoring a brace as Sydney FC equaled their biggest ever victory.
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Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.